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JMT

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Yesterday we began our month long adventure, hiking the entire John Muir Trail (JMT). in preparation for our first day of hiking we came to Mammoth Lakes, CA to get some high altitude acclimation. We arrived in Mammoth last evening and did a little walking around the town. Today we returned our rental car and then walked from town up the the Mammoth Lakes basin. We walked about 9 miles and saw some beautiful scenery. At one point we had taken a short trail to Lake McLeod from Horseshoe Lake (one of the Mammoth Lakes) and came upon a sign identifying the JMT to be 3 miles from there. A side note, in the morning we drove up to the the main lodge at Mammoth to witness hundreds of people going skiing (or snowboarding) on August 3, it was surreal. For the next couple of days we will be in Mammoth acclimating and on August 6 we will meet our guide abd another couple in Lee Vining CA before we are shuttled south to the staring point just south of Lone Pine CA. Once there we will most assu...
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Back at Home

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Really, the real retirement begins. Its a lot different when you are on vacation. We've been home now for about a week and havevbrought back some nomality, mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, cooking (although we havn't done a lot of that lately as our cooktop broke and we are on the cusp of having our kitchen redone so we haven't run out to buy another one). Charlene and I did gon a bike ride to visit (and help) our son and daughter-in-law with their new house in Ada, MI. It was about a 65 mile ride. We made it up there fine, but the return trip back was not as good (at least for me). About 3 miles before Plainwell I hot a wall (not literally). I couldnt carch my breathe, my head was tingling And I was nauseated. I laid on the grass long enoughthat Charlene called someone to pick us up. I was very grateful for the help and to not have to ride the last 19 miles. While laying their on the grass we had to women come from a house across the street offering us water and any ...
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Louisville

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 It's been a few days since I blogged, so I'm squishing days together. The day after we arrived home from our bike trip we left for Louisville for the wedding of my son's friend (and Best Man). We were staying at a 2 bedroom Airbnb as two of our sons were going us. At the reception (about 9pm) I got a text from the innkeeper of a B&B that I had booked (and I thought for sure, cancelled) months before asking for an ETA at the Inn. We were double booked and so Charlene and I went to the B&B and the others went to the Airbnb. The B&B was nice but the epitome of gaudy. There was not one square inch not covered with Victorian stuff (and Kentucky Derby hats). The bed was about as old as the civil war and if Charlene and I rolled towards each other we would sink into a hole that we'd not be able to extract ourselves from. I slept on the very edge (sort of hanging over) to prevent slipping into the abyss. I must admit though, the breakfast was good but you had to li...
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The Big Muddy (Day 5 and End)

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 On day five we left the Missouri River and headed across rolling farms. The biggest thing was I did NOT get a flat!!!also the day was only 37 miles but it had a lot of ups and downs (physically, not emotionally). We ended the ride in Sedalia. The Chamber of  Commerce came out and set up a tent to promote the town. It was like a scene in Patton when he liberated Sicily and the crowds were cheering and bands were playing except a bit smaller and there were no Nazis. They provided free transportation from Laura. In a 5-10 minute ride with Laura we learned anything and everything about Sedalia (and her personal hygiene schedule). The next morning the Chamber of Commerce was there again with dozens of hard boiled eggs (the place that they contracted breakfast cancelled last minute so the Chamber of Commerce stepped in, bless their hearts). Yesterday, the last day, was also a shorter ride, 36 miles. It had poured during the night so the ground was saturated. That made the ride so m...
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The Big Muddy (Day 3 and 4)

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 Yesterday, Sunday, we left Hermann MO, heading to Jefferson City (the capitol of MO, which I did not know). The Big talk before we left was the weather. Around noon severe thunderstorms we predicted. Also, I had looked to see if Jefferson City had any bike shops because the day before I had my inner tube changed on my back tire and the it really wasn't the right size. If there was a shop (there was) I would by a proper sized one and have that one put in. The shop closed at noon on Sundays. So we had 45 miles to ride and looming in the back of my mind was the thunderstorms and getting to the bike shop on time. The ride started with beautiful weather and was going splendidly. At our half way point refreshment/water stop I called the bike shop. He had the correct inner tubes and would reopen his shop fore if I was going to be a little late as I wasn't sure I could get there by noon. I told Charlene I was going to ride ahead to try to get there before he closed. I normally don...
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The Big Muddy (Day 2)

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 Today we rode from Defiance MO to Hermann, MO, distance, 44 miles. Being as Charlene and I had only ridden 6 miles since last summer as the weather had been so crappy before we left, today was a bit hard, especially the last 10 miles. Then about 3 miles from the end, I got a flat tire. That was good reason to 😭. The inner tube that I had was too all and my CO2 cartridge to refill the tire didn't work, so I cried more. Eventually we sort of got it fixed, we will see how well tomorrow. I did have to walk my bike the last two miles and I would have cried more but it was so hot that I had sweated away all my tears. Hermann MO is the bachelorette capitol of the world. There were some a of them walking around town going into the various breweries, distilleries and bars. They have free shuttles to drive you around so you can get hammered (which they were). Highlight of today, we met a wan who had toe world's best donuts of which I had 2.  One of many bridges we crossed The Missouri...
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The Big Muddy (Day 1)

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 Today we drove from I don't know where Missouri to Clinton Missouri. Once there we unloaded our bikes and gear and had them loaded on a truck and we boarded a bus. At 1:00 we pulled out headed for Defiance, MO. 4 or so hours later we arrived, checked in, then wondered around town a bit (not much of a town, but it's cute). We ate at a bar (deep fried bar food) as our choices were very limited (2 places and the bar was the closest). We are staying in what are called PHAT Trailers, which are semi truck trailers converted into 5 little 4 bunk rooms. Other people are in tents. Tomorrow we ride 44 miles on the Katy Trail (much like the Kal Haven trail, but it is longer and runs along the Missouri River) to a town called Hermann. We just met a guy who told us there are a bunch of wineries there!! Inside Our PHAT Trailer "Room" Bus Ride to Defiance MO Good Ole Southern Pulled Pork BBQ (I had baked beans and potato chips)
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